Chapter 6
Avelon Emerin ~ thank you soooo much for your help! And Dewdrop and ladyxlax, as well! As for the disclaimer, y'all know the whole thing already, try not to sue me. All people are TP's, except maybe some people from the Scanrans, whom I made up so brilliantly. J
Because Kel didn't have much to
do, she had a lot of time to think. She remembered Neal's voice when he said, "You
should really fall in love, Kel. It does miracles for your heart." She remembered his elated face as she told
him that she'd decided to take him up on the offer to be his bridesmaid.
On the day he'd left, Kel had gone
out to see him off, along with a few other friends of his from the Own.
"So?" he'd
said mildly. "Have you decided yet?" She'd looked up at him, and nodded slowly.
Hey, why not? Kel had thought. Like Raoul said, I need to get out
some more…do something. She vividly recalled the joy there, in every young
line and crease in his face. As he was leaving, at the very last second, Neal
called her over to him. Wrapping her in his enormous arms, he gently pulled her
into a tight hug. "We all miss Cleon, Kel. Stay strong, and keep in touch. I'll
miss you." She'd barely been able to reply, "I'll miss you too," before he
roughly pushed her away, wiped his eyes, and rode off into the distance. It
took all Kel's energy to keep her tears from brimming over. She imagined what
her old training master, Lord Wyldon, would've told her. Suck it up,
Mindelan. It's not the end of the world. But it sure felt like it.
Three months, (and a lot of tears)
later.
Winter was coming. Everyone could
feel it in the air, and no one was happy. The King's Own hadn't fought a battle
for two months. Even then, it had been but a short one, only a few minutes
long, to protect their camps from bandits. The Knight Commander was getting
cranky, aching to be out with the rest of the Riders and with the other
Companies of the Own. Kel noticed that Raoul's daily letters to the King were
getting shorter, more impatient, and more frequent. Finally, one crispy day,
when the leaves were almost starting to frost over, news came. King Jonathan
wanted them to move out. Not all of the Third Company (which raised a groan),
but a group of only five men.
"To – Raoul of Goldenlake, Knight Commander of the King's
Own, (Raoul read)
I am unhappy to announce to you
that I have found combat work for your men. (Here came the loud
'whoop!') There have been an increasing number of Scanran attacks near your
fort. Unluckily, there have also been attacks near the Fief of Mindelan. I have
been receiving reports from our best Tortallan spies as to the whereabouts of
the Scanran army, with Maggur Rathhausak in the lead. They have all replied
that the enemy army is indeed headed towards Mindelan for an enormous attack."
At this, what seemed like most of the Own turned to stare at Kel, noting her rapidly paling face. Raoul shot his friend a sympathetic look, and continued reading.
"As you know, the Second Company of the Own is
already camped near Mindelan, and they have received the news of the oncoming
attacks way before you. Due to some unfortunate injuries in their group
however, they are short of about two or three much-needed men. I would
appreciate it if you would send five men over to Mindelan to help with their
forces, just to be on the cautious side. I know that the entire Third Company
is getting very impatient, and waiting for battle, but I am absolutely sure
that every man in that crowd will get his turn to fight, for there is
more than enough battles to go around. Goldenlake, I would very much like it if
you lead the group of five men to Fief Mindelan, as they may need you down
there. Captain Flyndan will be in charge of the rest of the Third Company while
you are away. Although I know that it is unpleasant for the rest of your group
to stay behind at the fort, it is completely necessary that you do, because if
the Scanrans and Rathhausak avoid Mindelan, they will head straight for you. Do
take care, and be cautious.
Sincerely,
King Jonathan the III, Ruler of Tortall
PS~ Raoul, you get into trouble and I will
come after you!"
The Knight Commander finished the letter bitterly. "Oh yeah? You'll come after me, will you?" he muttered under his breath. He turned to face the Third Company, a grim smile on his face. "Well, we asked for trouble, and it looks like we're going to get it!"
"Yeah," someone shouted, "but we're going to make sure Rathhausak gets it, too!" At this there were cheers throughout the field.
"Okay, okay, let me choose who's coming on our first exciting expedition, as the King seems to think it," drawled the Commander easily. Kel grinned. It was well known to everyone in the Third Company that Raoul thought the King treated them like little babies, to be played with at his will. But he was the king, so what could you do? The field was silent, and you could hear Jump panting beside Kel, his eyes, too, on the Knight Commander.
"Let's see…" Raoul started. He was making them itch and he knew it. Kel wasn't sure if she wanted to go or not. "Me, on order, Masbolle," Dom, she thought vaguely, her ears still on the deep voice ringing from the front. "Volorin, Wolset…" and? AND?! Kel's brain whirled. The Lord's eyes scanned the field quickly, resting for a moment on her. A wry smile crossed his face. " …And Mindelan."